“We treat humans, not herds!”: A qualitative study of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers' individualized approaches to vaccination in Switzerland

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_7AAF22F147D8
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
“We treat humans, not herds!”: A qualitative study of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers' individualized approaches to vaccination in Switzerland
Journal
Social Science & Medicine
Author(s)
Deml Michael J., Notter Julia, Kliem Paulina, Buhl Andrea, Huber Benedikt M., Pfeiffer Constanze, Burton-Jeangros Claudine, Tarr Philip E.
ISSN
0277-9536
ISSN-L
0277-9536
Publication state
Published
Issued date
11/2019
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
240
Pages
112556
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers' roles in parents' decision-making about vaccinations for their children have only recently begun receiving research attention, despite studies showing CAM to be used by 25-50% of the population in Western countries. This article examines how CAM practitioners discuss vaccinations with parents in Switzerland, with a focus on childhood vaccinations and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations. We describe how the CAM providers we interviewed (N = 17) and observed during vaccination consultations (N = 18 observations with 5 providers) employed individualized approaches to vaccination. Triangulation of qualitative evidence from interviews and observations allowed us to analyze their discourses and descriptions of experiences (i.e. what they said) and their practices in situ (i.e. what they did). Evidence gathered shows that practitioners framed vaccination decisions as choices at individual and family levels rather than focusing on public health benefits and consequences. They articulated their perspectives in terms of personal clinical experiences and parents' wishes, concerns, and contexts. Such findings challenge recurring narratives depicting CAM providers as categorically anti-vaccination and suggest that approaches to address vaccine hesitancy in clinical practice could benefit from communication and relational approaches similar to those demonstrated by participants in this study. Such approaches include taking time to understand parents' wishes, involving them in vaccination decisions, and taking their concerns seriously.
Keywords
History and Philosophy of Science, Health (social science)
Pubmed
Web of science
Funding(s)
Swiss National Science Foundation
Create date
10/10/2023 9:02
Last modification date
13/04/2024 6:06
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